HOPE YOU’RE rested, legislators. Your constituents are expecting the second half of the regular session, which cranks up today, to be much more productive than the first.

Your GOP leaders say they spent much of the session’s first half drafting and revising bills. Now, with spring break behind you, it’s time for some action.

You’ll be tackling several hefty issues, including the state’s General Fund budget, immigration and charter schools. You’ll also be looking at bills on corporate tax breaks, legislative pay and state pensions, among other things.

Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, who has been in the Legislature since 2000, predicted a wild ride and "the busiest second half of a legislative session I’ve ever been a part of."

Good. There is plenty to do, starting with these three:

¡¤The General Fund. Legislators will be cutting into the meat of this fund, which is responsible for Medicaid, prisons and other non-education services.

Estimates say the budget for fiscal 2013 will be reduced by a whopping 19.6 percent or more in order to be balanced, which is required by law.

Rep. Jim Barton, R-Mobile, who heads the House Ways and Means-General Fund Committee says he expects next year’s budget to produce a "tremendous amount" of layoffs, which could carry a political price. Constituents generally like the idea of cutting the fat out of government, but they might not be so happy if the state starts handing out pink slips.

- Immigration. If lawmakers aren’t willing to repeal the law in its entirety, the least they can do is make it more practical. And for goodness’ sake, don’t make it worse.

Indeed, HB 56 made life tougher for illegal immigrants, but it also burdened many ordinary Alabamians, from those standing in line for car tags to farmers trying to raise crops.

What’s more, it made the state appear backward and unfriendly to the rest of the world; and the resulting damage to Alabama’s image could take years to repair.

Legislators can listen to those who counsel moderation and roll back the most egregious portions of the bill, so that it hinges mostly on E-Verify, a federal program that checks the status of new workers. Republicans say their goal is to make the law simpler and more enforceable, though it’s hard to imagine a longer rewrite accomplishing that.

- Charter schools. The proposal now being floated in Montgomery would legalize charter schools, but within certain limits. Decisions to form charters would have to go through local school boards, and only 50 new schools would be allowed in the first four years.

This reasoned approach should keep charter schools from harming healthy traditional schools, while also giving families in ailing school districts a shot at something better.

The second half of the session can include up to 15 meeting days between now and May 21. Here’s hoping lawmakers’ decisions and the legislation they send to the governor’s desk are in the best interests of all Alabamians.